Discrete element light modulating microstructure devices

Abstract

A light modulating or switching array (,) having a plurality of discrete protrusions (,) formed of electro-optic material, each of which is electrically and optically isolated from each other. The protrusions (,) have defined a top face (,), a bottom face (,), first and second side faces (,), and front and back faces (,). There are a plurality of electrodes (,) associated with each of the protrusions (,), these electrodes (,) being capable of inducing an electric field in the electro-optic material for independently modulating a plurality of light beams which are incident upon one of the faces (,) of the protrusions (,). The electro-optic material may be of PLZT, or a member of any of the groups of electro-optic crystals, polycrystalline electro-optic ceramics, electro-optic semiconductors, electro-optic glasses and electro-optically active polymers. Also disclosed is a light modulating array (,) of the type having a matrix (,) of electro-optic material which contains a plurality of embedded adjacent electrodes (,). These electrodes (,) are capable of inducing an electric field in the electro-optic material for independently modulating a plurality of light beams which are incident upon the matrix (,) of electro-optic material. This matrix (,) can be formed by a variety of processes, including a sol-gel process. Additionally disclosed is a system (,) in which light modulating arrays (,) are used to modulate incident light beams (,) and separate them into a plurality of data channels (,).